January 19, 2026: CATL has opened a ‘new energy aftermarket’ plant in Saudi Arabia featuring battery diagnostics, repair, maintenance, rework, training and recycling services to support its operations in the Middle East.

The China-based lithium battery major said the ‘Ning Service Experience Center in Riyadh opened on January 10 and is its largest such facility outside China to support EV and ESS battery tech.

The site offers comprehensive full-lifecycle after-sales support, cultivates local technical talent and accelerates the deployment of advanced electrification and energy storage solutions.

The opening comes as Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East advance ambitious electrification and decarbonization goals under Vision 2030 and similar national initiatives, CATL said.

In Saudi alone, the kingdom has set a goal to transition 30% of all vehicles in Riyadh to electric by 2030.

However, progress is tempered by persistent challenges, including longstanding oil dependency, surging electricity demand, extreme climatic conditions, and limited charging and service infrastructure.

Covering more than 7,000m2, the Riyadh center combines exhibition areas, diagnostics and maintenance zones, refurbishment facilities, training spaces, and a customer lounge.

Bruce Li, president of CATL’s quality system, aftermarket business and battery management system department, said: “Starting from here, CATL will continue to expand its after-sales service network across the Middle East, align closely with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, and support the region’s energy transition through a reliable, end-to-end service system.”